Ships withstand a fierce storm in the Kerch strait linking the Black and Azov seas in this image made from television broadcast Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007. A Russian oil tanker broke in two in a strait linking... (Associated Press)

(Newser)
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A Russian oil tanker spewed more than 1.3 million gallons of oil into the Black Sea early today after breaking apart in violent storms it wasn't designed to withstand, reports the AP. Two other ships carrying sulfur sank, and both rescue and clean-up efforts were being hampered by continuing bad weather. The spill was the region's worst in years.

"There is serious concern that the spill will continue," said an environmental official, adding that the spill would take "several years" to clean up. The sulfur from the other two ships could further damage the area's habitat, in addition to the fuel oil they carried. Two other barges ran aground in the 8-foot waves, but hadn't leaked.